Large majority of Canadians backing Habs, poll says

More than two-thirds of Canadians have jumped on the Montreal Canadiens bandwagon, according to an Angus Reid poll.

The online survey found that 68 per cent of respondents are cheering for the Habs as they remain in the National HockeyLeague’s Stanley Cup playoffs. The support is highest in Quebec (78 per cent) and British Columbia (74 per cent), while the lowest is in Manitoba/Saskatchewan (48 per cent).

The poll of 1,013 adults was taken from May 14-16.

Montreal trails the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final against Philadelphia 2-0.

Of those polled, 56 per cent said it was “very likely” or “moderately likely” that Montreal will go on to win the Stanley Cup title next month, while 22 per cent suggested it was “not too likely” or “not likely at all.”

The optimism was highest in Quebec, where 76 per cent of those polled predicted that Montreal would win the Stanley Cup, while 91 per cent of Habs fans expected a Cup crown is “very likely” or “moderately likely.”

Montreal became the last Canadian team in the Stanley Cup mix after the Chicago Blackhawks ousted the Vancouver Canucks in the second round.

Canucks fans are the most supportive of the Canadiens, with 84 per cent of respondents backing Montreal through the remainder of the playoffs. A large majority of fans of the Ottawa Senators (78 per cent), Edmonton Oilers (69 per cent), Calgary Flames (66 per cent) and Toronto Maple Leafs (66 per cent) are also pulling for Montreal, with their own teams already on the golf course.

However, rivalries still run deep, with 26 per cent of Leafs fans saying they won’t support the Canadiens.